10 takeaways as Celtics hold off Spurs, head into All-Star break with momentum

The All-Star break has arrived, and the Celtics look like returning to kind as they gear up for the second half.

Boston cruised to a 116-103 win over the Spurs on Wednesday and has now received seven of its final eight. Listed below are 10 takeaways:

1) Jayson Tatum set the tone early.

Tatum, who completed with 32 factors, 14 rebounds and seven assists, got here out firing and located a rhythm within the opening minutes. He grew to become the primary Celtic within the play-by-play period to have 14 factors, six rebounds and three assists in a primary quarter and performed the sport on his phrases.

He was primarily in cruise management after that, nevertheless it was greater than sufficient. Tatum has scored 30-plus factors in three straight video games for the primary time since late December. This has been one of many higher stretches of his profession, and he’s taking on video games with function and panache.

2) Kristaps Porzingis was an ideal sidekick.

Porzingis (29 factors) appeared to relish the chance to go at Victor Wembanyama. He punished him with a sequence of fakes within the first quarter and received the matchup decisively.

The Celtics are undefeated when Porzingis scores 25 or extra factors this season, which seems like sufficient of a pattern measurement to say it’s not a coincidence.

3) Others stepped up with Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation out.

One of many Celtics’ most admirable traits is their means to maintain the operation working easily when a few of their finest gamers are sidelined.

With Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation out, Sam Hauser and Al Horford seamlessly slid into the beginning lineup. Their stats weren’t eye-popping, however they each executed their roles at a excessive degree.

Derrick White had 19 factors, 9 assists and seven rebounds. Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard additionally contributed, as did newcomer Torrey Craig.

4) Craig seems to be like a really perfect match.

The Celtics wanted a wing who can shoot and defend, and so they received one in Craig. Craig is a confirmed veteran who makes good choices, helps greater than he hurts and matches in effectively with Boston’s personnel.

Wednesday was a little bit of an audition, and he made a powerful first impression. Craig hit each of his 3’s to complete with six factors and in addition blocked a shot and added an help. He didn’t attempt to do an excessive amount of, let the sport come to him and acted like he had been on the roster for months.

5) They defended Wembanyama effectively.

Wembanyama (17 factors, 13 rebounds) is inevitably going to attain, however the Celtics fared comparatively effectively in opposition to him, holding him to 7-of-16 taking pictures.

He had a pair eye-popping moments, however for essentially the most half, the Celtics neutralized him and made him appear like some other participant. It was a gaggle effort, however Horford deserves essentially the most credit score for holding his floor and pressuring the ball.

6) They dominated the glass.

Boston out-rebounded San Antonio, 56-38. Solely two Spurs had seven or extra boards, whereas Tatum (14), Horford (10), Pritchard (7), White (7) and Hauser (7) all did their half.

The truth that these three all snagged seven reveals a collective buy-in and a focus to element. Rebounding is usually largely about effort, and the Celtics displayed loads of effort Wednesday night time.

7) Turnovers have been an issue in spurts.

The Celtics performed effectively total, however turnovers damage them in stretches.

White had six and Porzingis 5, and Boston had 15 as a staff. That’s not a brutal quantity, nevertheless it’s a quantity that might have an effect on a sport if a staff lets it.

The Celtics managed to not wrestle in that space for lengthy durations of time, so it ended up not mattering.

8) They defended the three effectively.

Whereas a lot is made from the Celtics’ 3-point taking pictures, 3-point protection can typically play as a lot of a job in figuring out a sport.

The Celtics restricted the Spurs to 23.1 p.c from distance (9 for 39), together with 1 of 11 within the first quarter. Holding a staff under 30 p.c is usually a recipe for achievement, particularly once they hit 18 themselves.

9) They received a house sport.

Getting into Wednesday, the Celtics had one simply three of their final seven video games at residence, in comparison with six straight wins on the highway.

They managed to shift the development in the appropriate path on this one. It was only one sport, however the crowd was engaged and energized from the beginning.

Boston is now 17-10 at residence and 22-6 on the highway. There’s no logical clarification for it, however their prowess on the highway might probably bode effectively in an Jap Convention Finals sequence in opposition to the Cavaliers.

10) They head into the break with momentum.

The primary half hasn’t been all rosy, however the Celtics are nonetheless 39-16 and in glorious form total. You recognize you’re doing one thing proper as a franchise when everyone seems to be upset with a document like that.

However, they seem like making progress and are enjoying a few of their higher basketball of the season. The Celtics aren’t going to win each sport, and that’s OK, however they’re awfully robust to beat once they play like this.